VA // THE HEALTHY PICK

This is the video summarizing our work with the kids at Frank Rushton Elementary. We developed a game system 
called The Healthy Pick to teach kids about their healthy eating habits and how they affect their bodies. 

Find out more on the Design Ignites Change project page.

VA // ROSEDALE FINAL PRESENTATION

Healthy Pick Presentation

VA // VOLUNTEERING

I had the opportunity to go volunteering for the Rosadale community in KCK. They were have a Happy Halloween event where I got to do a bit of face painting! Can't say that it was my best work, but the kids seemed to like it. It was great to see a lot of people that care so much about a community and it's ability to thrive and support the people come together for an event. Rosedale has a large focus on a healthy lifestyle for it's kids. They had activities such as create your own trail mix, moon bounce, pumpkin painting, face painting, and a photo booth. It was a bit cold but a lot of fun! 

I painted a lot of hearts, ghosts, and spiderwebs that day... 

Thank you Abby for the pictures!

VA // ROSEDALE PROTOTYPE PROPOSAL

Keynote 2

VA // READING QUESTIONS WEEK 6

In the  Adbuster Véronique Vienne Interviews Kalle Lasnreading there is a dialogue of question and answers going on between Véronique Vienne and Kalle Lasn. Vienne asks, "What would be your guidelines for finding the true cost of a product?" The way that Lasn gives the example with the leaf blower is something I have never really thought about. The way that even a small thing can have such long term effects. 
Q: My question is, which I suppose this may have been already discussed, but if a designer either graphic or industrial new the exact outputs of a products or adertisement and how it related to the people, would they still go through with the design? 


He Might Be Giant: Shepard Fairey
By Michael Dooley
I actually wrote a research paper on Shepard Fairey my freshmen year about his how the majority of work is taken from something or someone else and he simply alters it and calls it his... the escapade with the Obama "HOPE" poster. Now, after being in design and having more exposure to Gorilla Advertisement I think my views may have changed. I think I understand the concept better the point that is trying to be made in that he just wants peoeple to react wether it be negative or positive. 
Q: This made me start thinking in terms of people's reactions. Shepard Fairey is just taking part in Gorilla tactics. He went to RISD just as all of us have gone to KCAI, but yet he is not necessarily doing things to for anyone else or a specific client. I suppose the general public is seen as his audience. I just wonder if any of us would go through the education that we have to create work that is purely based on reaction...? I do understand that he obviously went through training and understands the history and "rules" of the arts, but does this just depend on the person and what they want out of their work? Many designers design because their work will solve/help for a sole purpose (ex. doing a campaign for a hospital) but Fairey does it for himself in a sense. Could anyone live a life of design like that?

Guerrilla Street Postering Civil Disobedience in Los Angeles
By Robbie Conal
I am glad I read this after the SHepard Fairey piece. This also made me think about the lifestyle and who their work is producing. It is mentioned that people are going to see posters whether they want to or not.
Q: Is design/posters that are more tailored to an audience more effective or is the repetition of something more effective?

VA // Rosedale Presentation

Rosedale Presentation

VA // WEEK 4 READINGS

Design With Intent
Rober Fabricant 
Q: My question again lies within being neutral as a designer. We discussed this last time but I think it is possible to design something and be neutral. Of course everyone has different history and backgrounds. But I don't think that looking at a magazine layout or the grid can show a designers opinions on certain topics. Agreed? (I suppose that was more of statement within a question...)

Designer Authorship
Michael Rock
"The performer metaphor is based on the traditional performing arts of theater and music.
The actor is not the author of the script, the musician not the composer of the score, but
without actor or musician, the art cannot be realized. The actor is the physical expression of
the work."
Q: Rock makes this comparison and I think the role of the designer is changing. We are becoming the authors. We are creating content and doing the research now. We are no long just taking someone else's text and designing it. We are now doing it all.


The Designer As Producer
Victor Margolin
"With the development and distribution costs for these typefaces being fairly low, there is
nothing to prevent a young typographer from becoming an entrepreneur."
Q: This writing talks about the rise in technology and how designers have the a9ility to easily be entrepreneurs with the rise of technology. I have thought about this before in that in make it easier to create and be seen, but I also feel that it makes it even harder to be recognized. Instead of a select few designers having the abilities to create typefaces for example, anyone can. Does this lesson the value of our work?

VA // ROSEDALE IDEAS

IDEA 1
Problem
Being able to afford fresh produce. Many people do know what is healthy and what is not, they just do not have the financial ability to purchase them. 

Solution
In the meeting Heidi mentioned "food prescriptions." I was really intrigued by this and how it works. The path of people that take part in this. Does everyone know about it? Who in the community can it be supplied to? I have only found one article about these food prescriptions which makes me wonder if it is a pretty recent idea...?  How much involvement does the doctor have? Can it be used at the
"Farmer + PHarmer = a healthier America."

IDEA 2
Problem
Kids being aware of their food intake. If the food is healthy and how much they should be eating everyday. 

Solutions
Creating a school related method so that kids can track their eating habits. This method would allow the students to visually see their food intake and if it has been healthy or not. This behavior would be rewarded in a community style. Either class by class, school by school. Jessica has an idea that the end product would produce a large tree at the school or in a community space. The students will be rewarded with a leaf, sticker, or something to add to the tree. So the fuller and taller the tree gets, the more healthy the community of kids are becoming. If they fulfill their goals they get to add to the tree. Within schools each grade could have their own tree which would have to grow so tall by the end of each season.

VA // WEEK 2 READINGS

Visualizing a Revolution: Emory Douglas and The Black Panther Newspaper
by Colette Gaiter
“all power to the people.” 
Can another political organization be created like this again in "today's" world? What are the main differences in comparison from the 60s and now within citizen lead organizations? Is it just technology and the way the information can travel or do the people matter too?


Design of Dissent
by Tony Kushner
This was probably my one of my favorite points from the reading or something I related to the most. Is this true? What is the difference between our education and someone that teaches themselves? As a "professional" designer are we more able to make a difference then someone who has not? 

Graphicagitation Propaganda and Protest Graphics
How has technology changed the way we view and take in propaganda?
I think in a way advertisements and propaganda have begun to slow crossover.